Japan Imports Q3 2012: VW Golf leads, BMW 3 Series in Top 5

BMW 3 Series

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Imports sales in Japan are published every Quarter by a separate organisation, the Japan Automobile Importers Association. 26,510 new imported passenger cars were sold in September, up 2% year-on-year and bringing the year-to-date total to 177,221 units, up a very healthy 19% on 2011. As it has been the case for the last 10 years, the VW Golf is the best-selling import in Japan over Q3 2012 with 5,657 sales, albeit down 9% year-on-year. At 18,669 units over 9 months, the Golf is also down 9% on 2011 and out of the overall Top 30 but still way ahead in the imported ranking. The Mini stays at a brilliant 2nd place at 3,882 units (-4%) and ranks #3 year-to-date.

Mini

Excellent score of the Toyota Town/Lite Ace (produced overseas and reimported into Japan), up from #6 in Q2 to #3 with 3,608 sales, ahead of the Mercedes C-Class up 8% year-on-year to 3,557 units and #4. Thanks to the new generation of the model, the BMW 3 Series is back within the Top 5 for the first time in nearly 2 years (since Q4 2010) with 3,091 sales, up a massive 30% year-on-year. The VW Polo is down 36% to #6, while the BMW 1 Series is up 224% to #7 and the Mercedes B-Class up 143% to #8.

VW Sharan

Other great performers over the period include the Audi A1 up 15% on Q3 2011 to #13 at 1,358 units, the VW new Beetle at #14 with 1,320 sales, the Volvo V50 up 47% to #17 at 1,229 units and the VW Sharan at #20 with 901 sales, up 27% year-on-year.

Previous post: Japan Imports June 2012: BMW 1 Series and VW Beetle shine

Previous year: Japan Imports Full Year 2011: VW Golf #1, now in overall Top 30!

Full Q3 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.